Birth of a cherished brand

Sir Stephen Tallents was head of public relations at Royal Mail. He thought a logo would help people recognise and respect the postal service. The brand, launched in 1935, incorporated the letters GPO for General Post Office, and a crown to show the service's royal origins. The designer was Macdonald Gill and he used the Gill typeface for the lettering. This font had been created by his brother Eric, and it is still a favourite for its combination of traditional and modern influences.